HOOLET CHRISTMAS COMPETITION

In the last issue of hoolet we asked a simple MCQ, There are three acute hospitals in Lanarkshire, which one should be closed?

a) Monklands Hospital (which happens to be in the constituency of John Reid MP)
b) Hairmyres Hospital (which happens to be in the constituency of Andy Kerr MSP)
c) Wishaw Hospital (which happens to be in the constituency of Jack McConnell MSP)
d) None of the above

The winner is Dr Chris Mackintosh, a GP in East Kilbride, with a typical GP answer; I am flabberghasted and stunned. In the world of seriously well organised multi guess questions (with which hoolet should be conversant), there is always an answer (e) All of the above.

And unsurprisingly, this is the answer. All of the hospitals Monklands Hairmyres and Wishaw should be closed. I will attempt to explain some of the reasons, reasonably politely.

If one politician has to sacrifice his constituency hospital, then all will.
If I wanted a hospital service organisation for Lanarkshire, I wouldn't have started from there.
If nobody knows where Lanarkshire is after it was the first place to open two PFI hospitals, perhaps they will take note after it is the first place to shut two PFI hospitals.

But seriously, what will the health service in Scotland look like in 20 years? If I was a betting man, and I am not, I would put a used tenner on only one Hospital in Lanarkshire. ( Where?.. the place that was the first one to shut two PFI hospitals, have three important(?) politicians and still be ignored by the Scottish Executive)

hoolet is the magazine of RCGP Scotland. It is supported intellectually, financially and emotionally by RCGP Scotland.

This issue maintained by Robert Hallam.